California, situated on the western side of the United States, adjacent to the Pacific Ocean and bordering Mexico, Arizona, Oregon and Nevada, is a vast state both in size and in terms of the population; California has a variety of climates and altitudes which support a diverse plant ecology system.
Geographically, California includes the Sierra Nevada mountain range, the Mojave desert, Redwood forests in the north west of the state and the large agricultural area of Central Valley. California covers an area of approximately 160,000 square miles with Mediterranean, mountain and desert climate regions. California is home to some of the world's tallest, largest and oldest trees.
Definition of a Native Plant of California
Native plants of California were present in the state of California long before the arrival of European immigrants; native plants 'network' with animals and other living organisms, such as fungi and microbes, to form 'natural' communities which are vital to the ecological survival of the area. Some non-native California plants may be detrimental to native California plants, although not all non-native plants are harmful.
The Study of Native Plants in California
European explorers returned to Europe with drawings of the plants they had discovered on plant expeditions in an effort to record 'new' botanical species. In addition, fossils of plants are often found by paleobotanists (essentially, an 'archaeologist' who specializes in plant study), indicating a plant's indigenous existence in a particular area.
The Future of Indigenous Plant Species of California
California has between 5,000 and 6,000 indigenous wild plant species (statistics vary widely depending on the definition of an 'indigenous' plant species of California), many of which are found in no other ecological system in the world; some native plants of California are now popular in Europe and have 'migrated' through European emigration.
However, a report in the Los Angeles Times of June 25 2008, indicates that 2,300 of California's plant species could be under threat due to climatic changes of rising temperatures and limited rainfall; such an outcome could have devastating consequences for the 'network' of animals and living organisms which native plants support.
Native Trees of California
Examples of native tree species of California include:
- Coast Redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) - one of the world's tallest trees
- Giant Sequoia (Sequiadendron giganteum) - one of the world's largest trees
- Pine Species including Ponderosa Pine (Pinus ponderosa)
- Oak species including Valley Oak (Quercus lobata) and Coast Live Oak (Quercus agrifolia)
- California Sycamore (Platanus racemosa).
Native Flowers of California
Examples of native flower species of California include:
- California Poppy (Eschscholzia californica)
- Baby Blue Eyes (Nemophila menziesii)
- Blazing Star (Mentzelia lindleyi)
- Crimson Columbine (Aquilegia formosa)
- Harebell (Campanula rotundifolia)
- Mountain Dogwood (Cornus nuttallii)
- Chocolate Lily (Fritillaria biflora)
- Hummingbird/Pitcher/Crimson Sage (Salvia spathacea)
- California Fuschia (Zauschneria californica)
- Pretty Face (Triteleia ixioides ssp anilina).
Other Native Botanical Species of California
California also has native grasses, ferns and vines; some indigenous plant species of California are found in neighboring states with similar plant ecological systems and climates. However, if the predicted climate changes continue, many of the native plants of California may disappear forever, together with the 'network' community which they support, if the plants cannot adapt to new climate patterns.
References:
California Native Plant Society
Roosevelt Margaret, 25 June 2008 Climate change threatens two-thirds of California's unique plants, study says USA: Los Angeles Times
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